Collapsible containers

ABSTRACT

An improved collapsible or dismantlable container with a palletshaped base, edgewise insertable, overlapping, side walls and a cover, which is easier to assemble and to dismantle than hitherto known containers, without thereby impairing its stability, wherein the improvement comprises cooperating fixing elements of which one part is arranged on the edges of the base and a second part on the lower edges of the side walls, and locking elements are provided on the top corners, comprising clamping means overlaying these corners. Additionally or alternatively, clamping means may be provided in the form of plug-in connections.

O United States Patent 1 3,659,737 Garbe 1 May 2, 1972 54] COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINERS FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS [72] Inventor: Hermann K. Gar-be, 115 d Hohnerk'amp, 1,038,940 5/1953 France... ..2l7/l2 c/o Hamburg Germany 1 France 1 A [22] Filed: 1970 Primary Examiner-Raphael H. Schwartz [21] APPL No; 1,357 Att0rneyBusser, Smith & Harding [57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. ..2l7/12 R, 217/69 An improved collapsible or dismanflable container with a [51] Ill. Cl let shaped base edgewise insenable, pp g, side walls [58] Field of Search ..217/43 A, 12. 1 1 and a cover, which is easier to assemble and to dismantle than 217/69 hitherto known containers, without thereby impairing its stability, wherein the improvement comprises cooperating fixing [56] References Cited elements of which one part is arranged on the edges of the base and a second part on the lower edges of the side walls, IT STATES PATENTS and locking elements are provided on the top corners, comprising clamping means overlaying these corners. Additionally 3,198,370 8/196L51 Bflalgd ..217/43 A or alternatively, clamping means may be provided in the form 3,156,370 11/196 Mon ort... ofplug in Connections 1,043,995 11/1912 Woolsey.....

682,621 9/1901 Humphrey ..2l7/69 UX 13 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures Patented May 2, 1972 3,659,737

6 Sheets-Sheet l /n ven tor.- HERMANN K. GARBE Patented May 2, 1972 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 2

//7 van for:

HERMANN K. GARBE Patented May 2, 1972 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 In van for;

HERMANN K. GARBE Patented May 2, 1972 3,659,737

6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig. 6

lnvenfor:

HERMANN K. GARBE Patented May 2, 1972 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Fig. 70

70Hi j/ 71 LJ 1 1.1 U

INVENTOR.

HEP/11,4 K GARB E COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINERS DESCRIPTION The invention relates, as indicated, to a collapsible or dismantlable container with a pallet-shaped base, edgewise insertable, overlapping side walls, and a cover, and comprising locking elements for retaining the walls together.

Such containers are sometimes referred to as collapsible boxes and require comparatively complicated fittings to hold the parts together after the assembly.

It is known, for example, to fit angled metal fittings to the vertical edges of wall members which cooperate with fittings on adjacent wall members actings as guides, wherein such fittings project at each corner below the bottom edge of the associated wall element and embraces a base member. This construction is comparatively cumbersome and comprises a large number of fittings, thereby rendering the arrangement more difficult and requiring a particular dexterity, because the fittings must be engaged one into the other.

It is also known to provide a container manufactured of wood with metal clips which project beyond the side walls and serve to connect the side walls with the base or cover by means of pins or nails to be inserted. This arrangement requires also the clamping together of the container by metal rods which pass through prepared holes, provided to this end. This construction necessitates expensive fixing means and particularly pinning together with metal clips renders the closing and opening of the container more difficult. Special tightening nuts must be screwed on to the rods so that there is a large number of parts which might be lost or mislaid.

It is also known to connect the wall sections of a collapsible container by means of push-through eyelets and wires or by means of bayonet locking elements. These connections take considerable time to make and require special training. Furthermore, both the base and the cover must have an angled edge which creates dead space when the container is dismantled.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved, boxlike, dismantlable container.

it is a further object of the invention to provide an improved container which combines the simplest possible construction of its elements with an ease of assembly and dismantling which exceeds that of hitherto known containers.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide an improved container which combines ease of dismantling into its components or elements with stability in the assembled condition.

The present invention provides a container, comprising a pallet-shaped base and four side walls, and detachable fixing means, of which a first element is mounted on the edges of the base and a second element on the bottom edge of the base, which two elements are adapted to be brought into engagement with one another and form, with vertically positioned side wall, a firm connection, wherein locking elements are provided, arranged at the comers formed by two adjacent side walls and equipped with clamping means which embrace the comer. Preferably, in a container, in which the side walls are provided, in their vertical, erected position perpendicular to the base, with reinforcing strips or fillets along their vertical edges which project outwardly, the said clamping means have first clamps adapted to be fitted from the top over the comers, wherein each clamp has a center section the ends of which carry parts angled thereto at a right angle and engaging each behind the reinforcing strips of adjacent side walls located at one corner and remote from the comer of the container. The first clamps are made from strip material, the ends of which are bent about a bending line, forming an angle of substantially 45 with the longitudinal axis of the strip material and perpendicular to its plane, wherein the said bending lines for the two ends form an angle of 90.

According to another embodiment, the said first clamps may have, in the center section between the bent ends, an angle, having a first planar leg section and a second planar leg section, wherein the said leg sections abut on each other at the apex of the angle and wherein the legs are provided in the center of the middle section between the bent ends and extend from this center section in the same direction as the said bent ends, and wherein the distance between a leg section and the adjacent end is equal to the thickness of a side wall.

According to yet another embodiment of the container, in which the reinforcing strips have on the edges, facing the center of a side wall, have a recess extending substantially over half the height of the said reinforcing strips and starting from the upper edge thereof, the said clamping means have second clamps which consist of an angled element with two legs, forming an angle of and having a length corresponding to the width of a reinforcing strip less the depth of a recess in such reinforcing strip, wherein the ends of the legs are provided with lugs, located at right angles thereto and directed towards the interior of the angle; these lugs engage into the recesses and the said second clamps are adapted to be pushed over the comers formed by two erected side walls forming such comers and the lugs engage into the recesses in the reinforcing strips remote from each other until they abut on a step formed by the end of the recess in the zone of the mid-height of the container.

According to yet another embodiment of a container with a cover, consisting of a plate equipped with interengaging means which are adapted to engage into an edge web of an opening left open on the top between the side walls, wherein the said edge web is formed by the top edges of the erected side walls, the underside of the cover is provided with projecting supports which engage into the top opening of the container formed by the upper edge of the erected side walls and which are recessed at the comers of the container to match the configuration of the inner edges of the said first clips, facing the center of the container, and form with this recess a rim which forms, together with the inner edges of the first clips a guide for the cover, wherein the edges form an angle of about 45 with the side edges of the cover.

in another embodiment of the container, consisting of a pallet-shaped base, four side walls and a cover, detachable fixing means of which one part is mounted on the edges of the base and a second part on the lower edges of the side walls and which are adapted to engage one into the other and form a firm connection when the side walls are located perpendicularly to the base, the cover consists of a plate provided with engaging means which engage into an edge of an opening left free towards the top between the side walls, wherein this edge is formed by the top edges of the erected side walls, and comprising locking means adapted to hold together the upper edges of the side walls at their ends, wherein the first part of the fixing means on the edges of the base has laterally and upwardly open recesses, of which at least two are provided along each edge of the base, and comprising fittings with holes mounted above the recesses on the upper side thereof on the base, and wherein the second parts of the fixing means on the lower edges of the side walls have plug-in elements of hookshaped configuration, extending substantially within the plane of the side walls beyond the lower edge towards the bottom and are concavely curved relative to the outside of the side walls. This construction may include that the recesses with the fittings are provided near the corners of the base and the plugin elements are mounted on lateral reinforcing strips of the side walls.

in yet another embodiment, in which the base is formed by a base plate and blocks mounted on the underside of the base plate, the said recesses are provided on the upper edges of the outside comers of the blocks and the fittings are formed by flat angle irons, having two oblong legs forming a right angle to each other but located in the same plane and each having a hole located above a recess. Preferably, the base plate has a circumferential step, the width of which corresponds to the thickness of the side walls, and the said first part of the fixing means is arranged on the outer edge of this step.

In another embodiment of the invention, in which the base comprises a base plate forming the upper surface of the base, the underside of the base is provided with blocks, arranged on the underside of the base in spaced-apart relationship therefrom and projecting with their end sections beyond the base plate by an amount which is equal to the thickness of a side wall, wherein a step is formed adjacent to the base plate above the side edges of each block on its upper surface, which step is equal to the thickness of a side wall, and wherein further the side walls rest with their lower edges on the blocks and abut with the bottom inside on the outer edges of the base plate. The cover may consist of a flat member with four edges, each edge being provided with a rim or flange forming a right angle with the cover element and projecting beyond the underside of the cover, wherein these flanges form an opening fitting over the outside of the upper edges of the erected side walls of the container. Preferably, these flanges form retaining means which hold the erected side walls together.

Preferably, where the insides of the edge flanges are provided with wedge-like surfaces extending from the free end of the flanges to the underside of the planar element and which slope at least in the lower sections so that they expand towards the center of the planar element, these wedge-like faces have upper sections extending substantially perpendicularly to the planar element and are so spaced from the corresponding sections of the facing flanges that this distance corresponds substantially to the distance between the outsides of facing, erected, side walls of the container. Preferably, locking elements are provided between the cover flanges and the side walls. In a preferred embodiment these locking elements are snap elements.

According to an essential feature of the invention, the clips are adapted to be fitted from the top and bridge the corners of the container so that its capacity is in no way reduced. In particular, the clips are made of strip, the ends of which are bent perpendicularly about a bending line forming an angle of about 45 with the longitudinal axis of the strip. Preferably, the bending lines form an angle of 90. These simple means have the surprising effect of producing a perfectly stable assembly of the container.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the underside of the cover is provided with reinforcing strips or fillets, recessed in the corners in accordance with the configuration of the inner edges of the clips and form a guide for the cover in conjunction with the edge thus formed and extending at about 45 to the side edges of the cover.

In the embodiment of the planar just described, the side walls, the lower edges of which are detachably retained by connecting elements, are locked together only in the zone of the upper edges, wherein the assembly is locked together in this zone by the top clips which may be secured by the cover. According to another embodiment of the invention, the connection between side walls abutting along their edges and forming a corner may be further improved in that the reinforcing strips or fillets have, on their edge remote from the edge of the associated side walls, a recess extending from the upper edge of the side wall to about mid-height, and further clamping devices, adapted to be fitted over the comers and consisting of angles, are provided; the ends of these devices have inwardly bent lugs which engage into the recesses. This embodiment produces with surprisingly simple means a joint between the side walls at three points, thereby substantially increasing the resistance to internal pressure.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings and from the appended claims.

IN THE DRAWINGS:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dismantlable container according to the invention, partly broken away;

FIG. 2 is a partial view in perspective of a corner in exploded view;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-section along the line III-Ill in FIG. 1, showing merely the base zone;

FIG. 4 is a detail of FIG. 3 on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 5 is a view in perspective, corresponding to FIG. 1, but showing only a corner of the pallet-shaped base;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of another embodiment of the clamp according to the invention;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the dismantlable container according to the invention;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a detail of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatical side elevation in cross-section, showing another embodiment of a container, explanatory of another mounting facility for the vertical side walls.

Referring now to the drawing, the container shown in FIG. I has a pallet-shaped base 1, side walls 2 and 3, and a fitted cover 4, the remaining side walls having the same construction as the side walls facing them.

This embodiment shows a construction of wood. Each side wall consists of horizontally arranged boards, interconnected at the vertical edges of the side walls by suitable boards or reinforcing fillets 5, 6, and 7, 8, respectively.

The connecting means in the preferred wooden embodiment, particularly of boards, is nailing or a screw connection, or else gluing. If the walls, the base or cover are made from another planar material, other connecting means may be used, such as, e.g., riveting or welding. As may be seen in better detail from FIG. 2, the reinforcing strips 6, 7 project each beyond the vertical edge 8 or 9 of the associated side wall by an amount such that there occurs a mutually overlapping and supporting interengagement. Thus, the side wall 3 may be supported towards the inside on the edge 8, while the side wall 2 is supported on the inside on the edge 9 of the side wall 3, as well as on the front edge of the reinforcing strip 7.

As will be described in greater detail further below, the reinforcing strips have, at the bottom of the side walls, fittings 10, 11, 12, 13, equipped with plug-in elements 14, l5, 16, 17, adapted to be brought into engagement with profiles of the base. In this manner, the lower edges of the side walls are retained in the correct relationship to the base and to each other. For the assembly, clips are pushed over each corner from the top. Of these clips, FIGS. 1 and 2 show clearly the disposition of the clip 18. Each clip is made from strip iron; the ends are angled through to the plane of the center portion of the clip about bending lines 19, 20. Corresponding to the configuration of the corner, these bending lines form a right angle and are positioned at about 45 to the longitudinal axis of the center portion of the strip element. The dimensions of this center portion are such that the distance between the angled ends of the clip causes them to rest on the edges 23, 24 of the reinforcing strips 6, 7, remote from the corner, from the outside, thus preventing them from sliding ofi. It is an unexpected efiect of this arrangement that the connection made in this manner is easily established and very reliable.

The cover 4 may be provided, for example as shown at the broken-away edge, with the reinforcing strip or fillet in the form of a board 25, arranged at such a distance that its outer edge rests from the inside on the side wall 2. The end of the board 25 located within the zone of the corner shown in FIG. 2, is chamfered to match the shape of the inner edge 26 of the clip 18 so that the edge 27, extending at an angle of 45 to the side edges of the cover 4, also forms an abutment or guide on the clip 18.

As may be seen from FIG. 1, blocks, for example in the shape of beams 29, 30, 31, extending over the depth, are arranged under a base plate, shown in parts in FIGS. 3 to 5 at 28, and skid-shaped boards 32, 33, 34 are arranged thereunder. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the outer edges 35, 36 of the base plate are set back relative to the outsides 37, 38 of the blocks by an amount equal to the thickness of a side wall 2 plus the thickness of the reinforcing strips 6, as indicated in FIGS. 3 and 4 with reference to FIG. 1.

Two upwardly open recesses 39, 40 are provided at each comer at the outsides 37, 38 of the blocks. These recesses are covered at the top by a flat-angled fitting 41. This fitting may be fitted into the stepped edge configuration formed at the blocks. Above the said recesses 39, 40, the fitting is provided with holes 42, 43 which are covered by a web towards the front or outside. FIG. 3 shows, by way of example, the plug-in element 16. The same is an outwardly concavely curved hook, fixed by a fitting 12 to the outside of the reinforcing strip 6, offset towards the back under the reinforcing strip and possibly under the side wall, and passing through the opening 42.

In order to fit or remove a side wall, the same must be pivoted through about 90, as indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 3, enabling the plug-in element 16 to be removed. It may also be seen that it also acts as a hinge, retaining the side wall 2 until it has been folded over after the manner of a ramp.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a special embodiment of a clip 44, corresponding in its main section to the clip 18 with angled ends 21, 22, and these ends are therefore referenced 21, 22 in FIGS. 6 and 7. However, the main section comprises here a downwardly extending angle, the legs 45, 46 of which form a right angle and are inwardly offset relative to the ends 21, 22 by an amount corresponding to the thickness of the side walls 2, 3. This enables the side walls to be received between the end 22 and the leg 45, and between the end 21 and the leg 46, respectively, and the inwardly abutting legs ensure the proper seating of the clip, if the side walls do not overlap in steps.

FIG. 8 shows the same container as FIG. 1, and uses also the same reference numerals for corresponding parts. However, in the FIG. 8 embodiment, the reinforcing strips 5, 6, 7, 8 have on their edges 47, 48, 49, 50 which are each remote from the edge of the associated side wall 2, 3, forming a corner, recesses 51, 52, 53, 54 in the upper portion, wherein these recesses extend from the upper edges of the side walls 2, 3 to about mid-height, The vertical bases of the recesses are shown at 55, 56, 57, 58. In this construction, the angled ends 59, 60 of the clips, such as 18, are so arranged, owing to the chosen dimension of the center section, that their edges facing the corner rest on the bases 56, 57 of the recesses 52, 53. However, prior to the fitting of the clip 18, a further clamping device 61, 62, 63 is pushed from the top over the comers; this clamping device consists of an angle, shown in plan view in FIG. 9. The angled element forming the clamping device 61 comprises two legs 64, 65, having such a length that they overlie, for example, the front right comer of the container shown in FIG. 8. The ends of the legs 64, 65 are provided with inwardly directed lugs 66, 67 which engage into the recesses 52, 53 and rest on the bottom 56, 57 of the recesses. The vertical positioning of the clamping devices 61, 62, 63 is fixed by the lower ends of the recesses forming in this zone a step with the edges 47 through 50.

After the clamping devices 61, 62, 63 have been fitted, the upper edge clips are inserted, of which one is shown, by way of example, at 18 in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 shows a side elevation of a container with a base 1, facing side walls 68, 69 which are mounted at the bottom by means of the mounting elements described above to the base and shown in the drawing at 70, 71. It may be seen from the preceding description that the construction of the mounting means is such that the side walls may be folded towards the side, for example as shown in FIG. 3, and then lifted out.

In the vertical position, the side walls 68, 69 and, of course, also the side walls perpendicular thereto, i.e., extending parallel to the plane of the drawing, are retained under a cover 72, provided at its edges with downwardly projecting flanges 73, 74, 75 which embrace the upper sections of the side walls and retain them. These flanges 73 through 75 are provided with downwardly projecting locking means 76, 77, 78, which may preferably be snap devices, pinning means, lock plates or the like, and may be adapted to engage with a locking or ratchet element 79, 80, 81 on the associated side wall.

The preferred embodiment comprises that the insides of the flanges 73, 74, 75 are provided with vertically extending wedge surfaces 82, 83, 84, 85 of which preferably two are arranged on each edge flange. These wedge faces approach each other substantially from the lower edge of the flange 73 through 75 towards the top. The sloping surfaces 86, 87, 88, 89, formed in this manner, contact the upper sections of the side walls under pressure when the cover is fitted. Preferably, these sloping surfaces extend into upper sections 90, 91, located substantially perpendicularly to the cover 72, and being spaced from the facing sections by an amount corresponding to the spacing between the outsides of the fitted side walls 68, 69 and forming abutments for the same.

It should be noted that, where the side walls are detachable, the embodiment of FIG. 10 offers the advantage that the side walls removed from the base 1 can be placed on the base and the cover 72 can be fitted with its flanges 73 through 75 thereover, whilst the locking elements 76 through 78 may engage into corresponding elements provided on the base 1.

Preferably, the clips are made of metal strip and the walls of wood and preferably of boards, as known in the art, while the reinforcing strips extend perpendicularly to the direction of the other boards and form connecting boards. The reference to reinforcing strips also comprises constructions of other materials such as plastics, metal or the like in which the reinforcing strips are produced by integral molding.

I claim:

1. A container comprising a pallet-shaped base, four side walls and detachable fixing means, wherein the improvement comprises that a first part of the set fixing means is arranged on the edges of the base and a second part on the lower edges of the side walls, wherein these two parts are adapted to interengage and form a firm connection when the side walls are located perpendicularly to the base, and comprising locking means mounted each on a comer of two adjacent, erected, side walls and provided with clip means which embrace the said comer, said side walls have reinforcing strips along the edges extending perpendicularly to the side walls when these are erected and which project outwardly, said clip means having first clamps (18, 44) adapted to be fitted from the top over the comers and having each a center section, the ends of which have parts (21, 22) bent at right angles and engaging each behind an edge of a reinforcing strip, remote from the corners of the container and provided on adjacent side walls, said first clamps (44) having, in the center section between the bent ends (21, 22) an angle, comprising a first flat leg member (45) and a second flat leg member (46), abutting at the apex of the angle, said legs being provided in the center of the center section between the bent ends (21, 22) and extending from the center in the same direction as the bent ends, the distance between each leg member (45, 46) and the adjacent end (21, 22) being equal to the thickness of the side wall.

2. A container comprising a pallet-shaped base, four side walls and detachable fixing means, wherein the improvement comprises that a first part of the set fixing means is arranged on the edges of the base and a second part on the lower edges of the side walls, wherein these two parts are adapted to interengage and form a firm connection when the side walls are located perpendicularly to the base, and comprising locking means mounted each on a comer of two adjacent, erected, side walls and provided with clip means which embrace the said comer, said side walls have reinforcing strips along the edges extending perpendicularly to the side walls when these are erected and which project outwardly, said clip means having first clamps (18, 44) adapted to be fitted from the top over the corners and having each a center section, the ends of which have parts (21, 22) bent at right angles and engaging each behind an edge of a reinforcing strip, remote from the comers of the container and provided on adjacent side walls, said reinforcing strips along the edges, facing the center of a side wall, having a recess extending over half the height of the reinforcing strip and starting from the top edge of the side walls, said clip means comprising second clips, consisting of an angle with two legs, forming an angle of and having a length corresponding to the width of a reinforcing strip reduced by the depth of a recess in a reinforcing strip, wherein the ends of the legs are provided with lugs extending at right angles thereto and directed towards the interior of the angle, and adapted to engage into the said recesses, wherein the said second clip means are adapted to be pushed over the corner formed by two adjacent erected side walls, causing the lugs to engage into the recesses of the reinforcing strips facing away from each other until they come to rest on a step formed by the end of the recess in the zone of the mid-height of the container.

3. A container comprising a pallet-shaped base and a cover, detachable fixing means comprising a first part arranged on the edges of the base and a second part on the lower edges of the side walls, wherein these two parts are adapted to interengage and form a firm connection when the side walls are located perpendicularly to the base, wherein the cover is made of a plate provided with engaging means which engage into an edge section of an opening remaining open towards the top between the side walls and formed by the upper edges of the erected side walls, and comprising locking means which retain the upper edges of the side walls at their ends in the assembled state, wherein the first part of the said mounting means at the edges of the base has laterally and upwardly open recesses (39, 40), of which at least two are provided at each edge of the base, and comprising fittings (41) with apertures (42, 43) mounted above the recesses (39, 40) on the base and the second part of the fixing means on the lower edges of the side walls has hook-shaped plug-in members (15, 16) extending substantially in the plane of the side walls beyond their lower edge and concavely curved relative to the outside of the side walls, wherein the base is formed by a base plate and blocks (29, 30, 31) mounted on the underside of the base plate and extending therefrom, wherein the recesses (39, 40) are provided on the upper edges of the outside of the corners (37, 38) of the blocks (29, 31) and the fittings (41) are flat angles with two strip-shaped legs arranged at a right angle but in the same plane and each having a hole (42, 43) located above one of the said recesses, wherein the base plate has a circumferential step, the width of which corresponds to the thickness of the side walls, and wherein the first part of the said fixing means is arranged at the outer edge of the said step.

4. A container comprising a pallet-shaped base and a cover, detachable fixing means comprising a first part arranged on the edges of the base and a second part on the lower edges of the side walls, wherein these two parts are adapted to interengage and form a firm connection when the side walls are located perpendicularly to the base, wherein the cover is made of a plate provided with engaging means which engage into an edge section of an opening remaining open towards the top between the side walls and formed by the upper edges of the erected side walls, and comprising locking means which retain the upper edges of the side walls at their ends in the assembled state, wherein the first part of the said mounting means at the edges of the base has laterally and upwardly open recesses (39, 40), of which at least two are provided at each edge of the base, and comprising fittings (41) with apertures (42, 43) mounted above the recesses (39, 40) on the base and the second part of the fixing means on the lower edges of the side walls has hook-shaped plug-in members (15, 16) extending substantially in the plane of the side walls beyond their lower edge and concavely curved relative to the outside of the side walls, said base comprising a base plate (28) forming the top surface of the base and blocks (29 through 31) are mounted on the lower side of the base so that they project therefrom with end sections by an amount equal to the thickness of a side wall, wherein a step is formed adjacent to the base plate (28) above the side edges (37, 38) of a block on the upper side thereof, the width of the step being equal to the thickness of a side wall, and wherein the side walls (2, 3) are supported with their lower edges on the blocks (29, 31) and rest at the bottom on the inside against the outer edges (35) of the base plate (28).

5. A container comprising a pallet-shaped base and a cover, detachable fixing means comprising a first part arranged on the edges of the base and a second part on the lower edges of the side walls, wherein these two parts are adapted to interengage and form a firm connection when the side walls are located perpendicularly to the base, wherein the cover is made of a plate provided with engaging means which engage into an edge section of an opening remaining open towards the top between the side walls and formed by the upper edges of the erected side walls, and comprising locking means which retain the upper edges of the side walls at their ends in the assembled state, wherein the first part of the said mounting means at the edges of the base has laterally and upwardly open recesses (39, 40), of which at least two are provided at each edge of the base, and comprising fittings (41) with apertures (42, 43) mounted above the recesses (39, 40) on the base and the second part of the fixing means on the lower edges of the side walls has hook-shaped plug-in members (15, 16) extending substantially in the plane of the side walls beyond their lower edge and concavely curved relative to the outside of the side walls, wherein the cover consists of a planar element with four edges and each edge is provided with a flange extending at a right angle to the planar element and projecting beyond the underside of the cover, wherein these flanges form an opening which fits over the outside of the upper edges of the erected side walls of the container, wherein the said edge flanges form retaining means holding the erected side walls together, wherein the inside of the edge flanges is provided with the wedge faces extending from the free end of the flange to the underside of the planar element of the cover and which slope at least in the bottom section upwardly and towards the center of the planar element, and wherein the upper sections of these wedge faces extend substantially perpendicularly to the said planar element and are spaced from the upper sections of flanges on the opposite side of the cover by an amount corresponding substantially to the distance between the outsides of mutually facing, erected side walls of the container.

6. A container comprising a pallet-shaped base and a cover, detachable fixing means comprising a first part arranged on the edges of the base and a second part on the lower edges of the side walls, wherein these two parts are adapted to interengage and form a firm connection when the side walls are located perpendicularly to the base, wherein the cover is made of a plate provided with engaging means which engage into an edge section of an opening remaining open towards the top between the side walls and formed by the upper edges of the erected side walls, and comprising locking means which retain the upper edges of the side walls at their ends in the assembled state, wherein the first part of the said mounting means at the edges of the base has laterally and upwardly open recesses (39, 40), of which at least two are provided at each edge of the base, and comprising fittings (41) with apertures (42, 43) mounted above the recesses (39, 40) on the base and the second part of the fixing means on the lower edges of the side walls has hook-shaped plugin members (l5, 16) extending substantially in the plane of the side walls beyond their lower edge and concavely curved relative to the outside of the side walls, wherein the cover consists of a planar element with four edges and each edge is provided with a flange extending at a right angle to the planar element and projecting beyond the underside of the cover, wherein these flanges form an opening which fits over the outside of the upper edges of the erected side walls of the container, wherein the locking elements are arranged between edge flanges of the cover and the side walls.

7. A container comprising a pallet-shaped base, four side walls and detachable fixing means, wherein the improvement comprises that a first part of the set fixing means is arranged on the edges of the base and a second part on the lower edges of the side walls, wherein these two parts are adapted to interengage and form a firm connection when the side walls are located perpendicularly to the base, and comprising locking means mounted each on a corner of two adjacent, erected, side walls and provided with clip means which embrace the said corner, wherein the side walls have reinforcing strips along the edges extending perpendicularly to the side walls when these are erected and which project outwardly, wherein the reinforcing strips along the edges, facing a center of a side wall, have a recess extending over half the height of the reinforcing strip and starting from the top edge of the side walls, wherein the clip means comprise second clips, consisting of an angle with two legs, forming an angle of 90 and having a length corresponding to the width of a reinforcing strip reduced by the depth of a recess in a reinforcing strip, wherein the ends of the legs are provided with lugs extending at right angles thereto and directed towards the interior of the angle, and adapted to engage into the said recesses, wherein the said second clip means are adapted to be pushed over the comer formed by two adjacent erected side walls, causing the lugs to engage into the recesses of the reinforcing strips facing away from each other until they come to rest on a step formed by the end of the recess in the zone of the mid-height of the container.

8. A container comprising a pallet-shaped base and a cover, detachable fixing means comprising a first part arranged on the edges of the base and a second part on the lower edges of the side walls, wherein these two parts are adapted to interengage and form a firm connection when the side walls are located perpendicularly to the base, and comprising locking means which retain the upper edges of the side walls at their ends in the assembled state, wherein the first part of the said mounting means at the edges of the base has upwardly open recesses (39, 40), of which at least two are provided adjacent each edge of the base, and comprising fittings (41) with apertures (42, 43) being provided above the recesses (39, 40) on the base and the second part of the fixing means on the lower edges of the side walls has hook-shaped plug-in members (15, 16) extending substantially in the plane of the side walls beyond their lower edge and concavely curved relative to the outside of the side walls, wherein the base plate has a circumferential step, the width of which corresponds to the thickness of the side walls, and wherein the first part of the said fixing means is arranged at the outer edge of the said step.

9. A container as set forth in claim 8, wherein the base is formed by a base plate and blocks (39, 30, 31) mounted on the underside of the base plate and extending therefrom, and wherein the recesses (39, 40) are provided on the upper edges of the outside of the corners (37, 38) of the blocks (29, 31).

10. A container as set forth in claim 9, wherein the fittings (41) are flat angles with two strip-shaped legs arranged at a right angle but in the same plane and each having a hole (42, 43) located above one of the said recesses.

11. A container comprising a pallet-shaped base and a cover, detachable fixing means comprising a first part arranged on the edges of the base and a second part on the lower edges of the side walls, wherein these two parts are adapted to interengage and form a firm connection when the side walls are located perpendicularly to the base and comprising locking means which retain the upper edges of the side walls at their ends in the assembled state, wherein the first part of the said mounting means at the edges of the base has upwardly open recesses (39, 40), of which at least two are provided adjacent each edge of the base, and comprising fittings (41) with apertures (42, 43) being provided above the recesses (39, 40) on the base and the second part of the fixing means on the lower edges of the side walls has hook-shaped plug-in members (15, 16) extending substantially in the plane of the side walls beyond their lower edge and concavely curved relative to the outside of the side walls, in which the base comprises a base plate (28) forming the top surface of the base and blocks (29 through 31) are mounted on the lower side of the base so that they project therefrom with and sections by an amount equal to the thickness of a side wall, wherein a step is formed adjacent to the base plate (28) above the side edges (37, 38) of a block on the upper side thereof, the width of the step being equal to the thickness of a side wall, and wherein the side walls (2, 3) are supported with their lower edges on the blocks (29, 31) and rest at the bottom on the inside against the outer edges (35) of the base plate (28).

12. A container comprising a pallet-shaped base and a cover, detachable fixing means comprising a first part arranged on the edges of the base and a second part on the lower edges of the side walls, wherein these two parts are adapted to interengage and form a firm connection when the side walls are located perpendicularly to the base, and comprising locking means which retain the upper edges of the side walls at their ends in the assembled state, wherein the first part of the said mounting means at the edges of the base has upwardly open recesses (39, 40) of which at least two are provided adjacent each edge of the base, and comprising fittings (41) with apertures (42, 43) being provided above the recesses (39, 40) on the base and the second part of the fixing means on the lower edges of the side walls has hook-shaped plug-in members (15, 16) extending substantially in the plane of the side walls beyond their lower edge and concavely curved relative to the outside of the side walls, wherein the cover consists of a planar element with four edges and each edge is provided with a flange extending at a right angle to the planar element and projecting beyond the underside of the cover, wherein these flanges form an opening which fits over the outside of the upper edges of the erected side walls of the container, wherein the said edge flanges form retaining means holding the erected side walls together, wherein the inside of the edge flanges is provided with wedge faces extending from the free end of the flange to the underside of the planar element of the cover and which slope at least in the bottom section upwardly towards the center of the planar element, and wherein the upper sections of these wedge faces extend substantially perpendicularly to the said planar element and are spaced from the upper sections of flanges on the opposite side of the cover by an amount corresponding substantially to the distance between the outsides of mutually facing, erected side walls of the container.

13. A container as set forth in claim 12 wherein the locking elements are arranged between edge flanges of the cover and the side walls.

i t i t 

1. A container comprising a pallet-shaped base, four side walls and detachable fixing means, wherein the improvement comprises that a first part of the set fixing means is arranged on the edges of the base and a second part on the lower edges of the side walls, wherein these two parts are adapted to interengage and form a firm connection when the side walls are located perpendicularly to the base, and comprising locking means mounted each on a corner of two adjacent, erected, side walls and provided with clip means which embrace the said corner, said side walls have reinforcing strips along the edges extending perpendicularly to the side walls when these are erected and which project outwardly, said clip means having first clamps (18, 44) adapted to be fitted from the top over the corners and having each a center section, the ends of which have parts (21, 22) bent at right angles and engaging each behind an edge of a reinforcing strip, remote from the corners of the container and provided on adjacent side walls, said first clamps (44) having, in the center section between the bent ends (21, 22) an angle, comprising a first flat leg member (45) and a second flat leg member (46), abutting at the apex of the angle, said legs being provided in the center of the center section between the bent ends (21, 22) and extending from the center in the same direction as the bent ends, the distance between each leg member (45, 46) and the adjacent end (21, 22) being equal to the thickness of the side wall.
 2. A container comprising a pallet-shaped base, four side walls and detachable fixing means, wherein the improvement comprises that a first part of the set fixing means is arranged on the edges of the base and a second part on the lower edges of the side walls, wherein these two parts are adapted to interengage and form a firm connection when the side walls are located perpendicularly to the base, and comprising locking means mounted each on a corner of two adjacent, erected, side walls and provided with clip means which embrace the said corner, said side walls have reinforcing strips along the edges extending perpendicularly to the side walls when these are erected and which project outwardly, said clip means having first clamps (18, 44) adapted to be fitted from the top over the corners and having each a center section, the ends of which have parts (21, 22) bent at right angles and engaging each behind an edge of a reinforcing strip, remote from the corners of the container and provided on adjacent side walls, said reinforcing strips along the edges, facing the center of a side wall, having a recess extending over half the height of the reinforcing strip and starting from the top edge of the side walls, said clip means comprising second clips, consisting of an angle with two legs, forming an angle of 90* and having a length corresponding to the width of a reinforcing strip reduced by the depth of a recess in a reinforcing strip, wherein the ends of the legs are provided with lugs extending at right angles thereto and directed towards the interior of the angle, and adapted to engage into the said recesses, wherein the said second clip means are adapted to be pushed over the corner formed by two adjacent erected side walls, causing the lugs to engage into the recesses of the reinforcing strips facing away from each other until they come to rest on a step formed by the end of the recess in the zone of the mid-height of the container.
 3. A container comprising a pallet-shaped base and a cover, detachable fixing means comprising a first part arranged on the edges of the base and a second part on the lower edges of the side walls, wherein these two parts are adapted to interengage and form a firm connection when the side walls are located perpendicularly to the base, wherein the cover is made of a plate provided with engaging means which engage into an edge section of an opening remaining open towards the top between the side walls and formed by the upper edges of the erected side walls, and comprising locking means which retain the upper edges of the side walls at their ends in the assembled state, wherein the first part of the said mounting means at the edges of the base has laterally and upwardly open recesses (39, 40), of which at leAst two are provided at each edge of the base, and comprising fittings (41) with apertures (42, 43) mounted above the recesses (39, 40) on the base and the second part of the fixing means on the lower edges of the side walls has hook-shaped plug-in members (15, 16) extending substantially in the plane of the side walls beyond their lower edge and concavely curved relative to the outside of the side walls, wherein the base is formed by a base plate and blocks (29, 30, 31) mounted on the underside of the base plate and extending therefrom, wherein the recesses (39, 40) are provided on the upper edges of the outside of the corners (37, 38) of the blocks (29, 31) and the fittings (41) are flat angles with two strip-shaped legs arranged at a right angle but in the same plane and each having a hole (42, 43) located above one of the said recesses, wherein the base plate has a circumferential step, the width of which corresponds to the thickness of the side walls, and wherein the first part of the said fixing means is arranged at the outer edge of the said step.
 4. A container comprising a pallet-shaped base and a cover, detachable fixing means comprising a first part arranged on the edges of the base and a second part on the lower edges of the side walls, wherein these two parts are adapted to interengage and form a firm connection when the side walls are located perpendicularly to the base, wherein the cover is made of a plate provided with engaging means which engage into an edge section of an opening remaining open towards the top between the side walls and formed by the upper edges of the erected side walls, and comprising locking means which retain the upper edges of the side walls at their ends in the assembled state, wherein the first part of the said mounting means at the edges of the base has laterally and upwardly open recesses (39, 40), of which at least two are provided at each edge of the base, and comprising fittings (41) with apertures (42, 43) mounted above the recesses (39, 40) on the base and the second part of the fixing means on the lower edges of the side walls has hook-shaped plug-in members (15, 16) extending substantially in the plane of the side walls beyond their lower edge and concavely curved relative to the outside of the side walls, said base comprising a base plate (28) forming the top surface of the base and blocks (29 through 31) are mounted on the lower side of the base so that they project therefrom with end sections by an amount equal to the thickness of a side wall, wherein a step is formed adjacent to the base plate (28) above the side edges (37, 38) of a block on the upper side thereof, the width of the step being equal to the thickness of a side wall, and wherein the side walls (2, 3) are supported with their lower edges on the blocks (29, 31) and rest at the bottom on the inside against the outer edges (35) of the base plate (28).
 5. A container comprising a pallet-shaped base and a cover, detachable fixing means comprising a first part arranged on the edges of the base and a second part on the lower edges of the side walls, wherein these two parts are adapted to interengage and form a firm connection when the side walls are located perpendicularly to the base, wherein the cover is made of a plate provided with engaging means which engage into an edge section of an opening remaining open towards the top between the side walls and formed by the upper edges of the erected side walls, and comprising locking means which retain the upper edges of the side walls at their ends in the assembled state, wherein the first part of the said mounting means at the edges of the base has laterally and upwardly open recesses (39, 40), of which at least two are provided at each edge of the base, and comprising fittings (41) with apertures (42, 43) mounted above the recesses (39, 40) on the base and the second part of the fixing means on the lower edges of the side walls has hook-shaped plug-in members (15, 16) extending substantially in the plane of the Side walls beyond their lower edge and concavely curved relative to the outside of the side walls, wherein the cover consists of a planar element with four edges and each edge is provided with a flange extending at a right angle to the planar element and projecting beyond the underside of the cover, wherein these flanges form an opening which fits over the outside of the upper edges of the erected side walls of the container, wherein the said edge flanges form retaining means holding the erected side walls together, wherein the inside of the edge flanges is provided with the wedge faces extending from the free end of the flange to the underside of the planar element of the cover and which slope at least in the bottom section upwardly and towards the center of the planar element, and wherein the upper sections of these wedge faces extend substantially perpendicularly to the said planar element and are spaced from the upper sections of flanges on the opposite side of the cover by an amount corresponding substantially to the distance between the outsides of mutually facing, erected side walls of the container.
 6. A container comprising a pallet-shaped base and a cover, detachable fixing means comprising a first part arranged on the edges of the base and a second part on the lower edges of the side walls, wherein these two parts are adapted to interengage and form a firm connection when the side walls are located perpendicularly to the base, wherein the cover is made of a plate provided with engaging means which engage into an edge section of an opening remaining open towards the top between the side walls and formed by the upper edges of the erected side walls, and comprising locking means which retain the upper edges of the side walls at their ends in the assembled state, wherein the first part of the said mounting means at the edges of the base has laterally and upwardly open recesses (39, 40), of which at least two are provided at each edge of the base, and comprising fittings (41) with apertures (42, 43) mounted above the recesses (39, 40) on the base and the second part of the fixing means on the lower edges of the side walls has hook-shaped plug-in members (15, 16) extending substantially in the plane of the side walls beyond their lower edge and concavely curved relative to the outside of the side walls, wherein the cover consists of a planar element with four edges and each edge is provided with a flange extending at a right angle to the planar element and projecting beyond the underside of the cover, wherein these flanges form an opening which fits over the outside of the upper edges of the erected side walls of the container, wherein the locking elements are arranged between edge flanges of the cover and the side walls.
 7. A container comprising a pallet-shaped base, four side walls and detachable fixing means, wherein the improvement comprises that a first part of the set fixing means is arranged on the edges of the base and a second part on the lower edges of the side walls, wherein these two parts are adapted to interengage and form a firm connection when the side walls are located perpendicularly to the base, and comprising locking means mounted each on a corner of two adjacent, erected, side walls and provided with clip means which embrace the said corner, wherein the side walls have reinforcing strips along the edges extending perpendicularly to the side walls when these are erected and which project outwardly, wherein the reinforcing strips along the edges, facing a center of a side wall, have a recess extending over half the height of the reinforcing strip and starting from the top edge of the side walls, wherein the clip means comprise second clips, consisting of an angle with two legs, forming an angle of 90* and having a length corresponding to the width of a reinforcing strip reduced by the depth of a recess in a reinforcing strip, wherein the ends of the legs are provided with lugs extending at right angles thereto and directed towards the interIor of the angle, and adapted to engage into the said recesses, wherein the said second clip means are adapted to be pushed over the corner formed by two adjacent erected side walls, causing the lugs to engage into the recesses of the reinforcing strips facing away from each other until they come to rest on a step formed by the end of the recess in the zone of the mid-height of the container.
 8. A container comprising a pallet-shaped base and a cover, detachable fixing means comprising a first part arranged on the edges of the base and a second part on the lower edges of the side walls, wherein these two parts are adapted to interengage and form a firm connection when the side walls are located perpendicularly to the base, and comprising locking means which retain the upper edges of the side walls at their ends in the assembled state, wherein the first part of the said mounting means at the edges of the base has upwardly open recesses (39, 40), of which at least two are provided adjacent each edge of the base, and comprising fittings (41) with apertures (42, 43) being provided above the recesses (39, 40) on the base and the second part of the fixing means on the lower edges of the side walls has hook-shaped plug-in members (15, 16) extending substantially in the plane of the side walls beyond their lower edge and concavely curved relative to the outside of the side walls, wherein the base plate has a circumferential step, the width of which corresponds to the thickness of the side walls, and wherein the first part of the said fixing means is arranged at the outer edge of the said step.
 9. A container as set forth in claim 8, wherein the base is formed by a base plate and blocks (39, 30, 31) mounted on the underside of the base plate and extending therefrom, and wherein the recesses (39, 40) are provided on the upper edges of the outside of the corners (37, 38) of the blocks (29, 31).
 10. A container as set forth in claim 9, wherein the fittings (41) are flat angles with two strip-shaped legs arranged at a right angle but in the same plane and each having a hole (42, 43) located above one of the said recesses.
 11. A container comprising a pallet-shaped base and a cover, detachable fixing means comprising a first part arranged on the edges of the base and a second part on the lower edges of the side walls, wherein these two parts are adapted to interengage and form a firm connection when the side walls are located perpendicularly to the base and comprising locking means which retain the upper edges of the side walls at their ends in the assembled state, wherein the first part of the said mounting means at the edges of the base has upwardly open recesses (39, 40), of which at least two are provided adjacent each edge of the base, and comprising fittings (41) with apertures (42, 43) being provided above the recesses (39, 40) on the base and the second part of the fixing means on the lower edges of the side walls has hook-shaped plug-in members (15, 16) extending substantially in the plane of the side walls beyond their lower edge and concavely curved relative to the outside of the side walls, in which the base comprises a base plate (28) forming the top surface of the base and blocks (29 through 31) are mounted on the lower side of the base so that they project therefrom with and sections by an amount equal to the thickness of a side wall, wherein a step is formed adjacent to the base plate (28) above the side edges (37, 38) of a block on the upper side thereof, the width of the step being equal to the thickness of a side wall, and wherein the side walls (2, 3) are supported with their lower edges on the blocks (29, 31) and rest at the bottom on the inside against the outer edges (35) of the base plate (28).
 12. A container comprising a pallet-shaped base and a cover, detachable fixing means comprising a first part arranged on the edges of the base and a second part on the lower edges of the side walls, wherein these two parts are adapted to interengage and form a firm connection when the side walls are located perpendicularly to the base, and comprising locking means which retain the upper edges of the side walls at their ends in the assembled state, wherein the first part of the said mounting means at the edges of the base has upwardly open recesses (39, 40) of which at least two are provided adjacent each edge of the base, and comprising fittings (41) with apertures (42, 43) being provided above the recesses (39, 40) on the base and the second part of the fixing means on the lower edges of the side walls has hook-shaped plug-in members (15, 16) extending substantially in the plane of the side walls beyond their lower edge and concavely curved relative to the outside of the side walls, wherein the cover consists of a planar element with four edges and each edge is provided with a flange extending at a right angle to the planar element and projecting beyond the underside of the cover, wherein these flanges form an opening which fits over the outside of the upper edges of the erected side walls of the container, wherein the said edge flanges form retaining means holding the erected side walls together, wherein the inside of the edge flanges is provided with wedge faces extending from the free end of the flange to the underside of the planar element of the cover and which slope at least in the bottom section upwardly towards the center of the planar element, and wherein the upper sections of these wedge faces extend substantially perpendicularly to the said planar element and are spaced from the upper sections of flanges on the opposite side of the cover by an amount corresponding substantially to the distance between the outsides of mutually facing, erected side walls of the container.
 13. A container as set forth in claim 12 wherein the locking elements are arranged between edge flanges of the cover and the side walls. 